How do I know if I qualify to purchase a home with Wexford Habitat for Humanity?
Wexford Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical, Christian housing ministry financed through private donations and utilizing volunteer labor. Our purpose is to build homes alongside families and to sell the homes at no profit and no interest to families who could otherwise not afford to own a home.
Please read below to see if you have an interest in our ministry AND meet our general guidelines:
- To qualify you must have a housing need(i.e. no indoor plumbing, poor heating, major home disrepair, overcrowding[ three to a bedroom], unsafe or unsanitary conditions).
- You must have lived or worked in Wexford County for the previous year.
- Your total family income should be between 40% and 60% of the median income for Wexford County, currently it is $18,950 to $28,450 for a family of three.
- With your permission, we will verify employment and other income, verify checking and savings account balances, get a statement from your current and previous landlords, have a credit check done, and ask you for credit references.
- If you are approved for a Habitat home, we require you to join in programs to learn and practice budgeting, home repair, and maintenance.
- If approved for a Habitat home, about $1,000 will be needed for a down payment.
- If approved for a Habitat home, we require that all adult(18 years and older) members in your household be willing to work/volunteer 300 hours of sweat equity, 30 of those hours before construction will begin on your home.
- If you are approved for a home and meet the sweat equity requirements, Habitat will sell you a home at cost. Habitat home payments include taxes and insurance and will cost approx $400-$500/month. The actual cost may vary.
If you are interested in Habitat and believe you qualify for a home according to the above guidelines, we encourage you to fill out and return an application.
All information is confidential and will be used only for family selection. The application review process takes one to three months and construction up to two years.
We are willing to help you fill out this application. If you have any questions, please call the Wexford Habitat for Humanity office from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Families not initially accepted may reapply at a later date if their living and/or financial situation changes.